Timeless Public Speaking Laws

Know the room

Public speaking is stressful, so you should do anything you can to remove some of the unknowns. That's why you learn about the room your speech will be in. If you can, visit the room before the speech so that you can get a feel for it. If that's not possible, ask questions to learn a little more about it. How many people does the room hold and how many will be in attendance (this affects your performance — if you're speaking to 20 people in a room that holds 100, you'll need to really project for the room's energy to stay high.)? Temperature of the room is another detail that seems minor, but can make a difference; dress appropriately so you aren't freezing or worse, a sweaty mess. Finally, make sure you have any presentation and technology needs lined up ahead of time. If you need a microphone, projection screen or CD player, get them arranged in advance. We'll be the first to admit these are minor details, but there are so many variables and stresses in speaking that every little bit you can control in advance puts you at that extra bit of an advantage.

Don't acknowledge mistakes

No matter how much you've practiced your speech, mistakes will happen. It's a nerve-racking situation, but you need to come across as poised and in control. You need to take yourself seriously if you want your audience to respect you, and that's why it's a rule of public speaking to not acknowledge your mistakes. Minor slips of the tongue will happen, but when they do, don't worry about them, and most of all don't call attention to them. Your audience will be working to follow the points of your presentation, so 9 times out of 10 they won't notice your slip-up, and the 10th time they won't care. Your audience isn't worried about your mistakes; their attention will follow where you lead them as the presenter, so unless you direct the audience's focus to your error, they won't focus on it.

rules of thumb

There are as many types of speech as there are topics people care about. Speeches range from casual to formal, from an audience of one to an audience of thousands. Every speech is different, and that's why a little bit of planning ahead is going to pay big dividends in your level of preparedness. While nothing's true for every speech, these rules of thumb are timeless examples of how to give better ones. Give them a try — if you can make all five a natural part of your presenting style, you'll be well on your way to mastering the art of public speaking.